About 125 Harvard Students Probed for Plagiarism

Intellectual property is a serious legal issue. A student that copies an article online and passes it off as his or her own or a person that duplicates internet content to publish in another context can be prosecuted. Recently, about 125 Harvard University undergraduates were placed under the metaphoric microscope when they were accused of possible plagiarizing work on a final exam. The investigation is the most widespread cheating scandal that has ever been suspected at the college.

All of the students were in a class of more than 250, and will have to face hearings before Harvard’s Administrative Board. Professors at the school confirmed that they had copied others work after they read through take-home exams from May. The students may be forced to withdraw from the school for a year; if it can be proven that they cheated.

The Dean of Undergraduate Education at Harvard says that he believes that Internet access has changed the way that people view intellectual property. Now, information needed to successfully submit a paper, or articles on a subject can be downloaded in an instant. The College Committee on Academic Integrity says that academic honesty is essential, and that they hope Harvard will take serious measures to make sure that he cheating doesn’t happen again.

Some students have admitted to hiring stand-ins to take their entrance examples for them. In 2010, a Harvard student faked his way into an acceptance to the college after he forged recommendations and applied for scholarships with plagiarized essays. If you have been charged with plagiarism, you can be expelled from your school or fired from your job. In some cases, people may even take legal action against plagiarism if the offense has serious legal implications. Talk to a criminal defense lawyer if you have been charged with plagiarism and need legal representation!